COACHING STAFF

BRAD FISCHER | HEAD COACH

Brad Fischer restored the UW-Oshkosh women’s basketball winning tradition in short order. In June 2012, Fischer inherited a program that had won 11 WIAC championships and one national title but had no winning seasons and a 52-99 record from 2007-12.

Fischer, who sports a 165-37 record in his seven years at UW-Oshkosh, has guided the Titans to the NCAA Division III Championship five of the past six seasons. Under Fischer’s guidance UW-Oshkosh was one of eight Division III women’s programs to win at least one game at each of the four NCAA postseasons between 2014-17 as the Titans reached the third round in 2014 and 2017 and advanced to the second round in 2015 and 2016. UW-Oshkosh also capped the 2019 campaign with a trip to the third round of the NCAA postseason.

Fischer earned 2014 Central Region Coach of the Year honors from D3hoops.com as well as WIAC Coach of the Year plaudits in 2013, 2017 and 2019. Fischer helped UW-Oshkosh win the 2017 and 2019 WIAC regular season titles in addition to league tournament championships in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019. Fischer’s 2019 squad was the program’s second to sweep the WIAC regular season and postseason titles and first since the league tournament debuted in 1999.

Fischer has led UW-Oshkosh to at least 20 victories during each of his seven seasons, marking the second time in conference history that a program has won 20 or more games in at least seven consecutive years. His 165 wins ranks 11th on the WIAC’s all-time coaching list while his .817 winning percentage is third best among conference coaches with at least 70 wins.

UW-Oshkosh has established several team season records during Fischer’s tenure, including a .354 field goal percentage defense in 2016-17, 199 made 3-pointers in 2018-19, 662 3-point attempts in 2018-19, 558 made free throws in 2013-14, and 775 free throw attempts in 2013-14. The Titans’ mark for 3-pointers attempted in a season is also a WIAC record.

School game records since Fischer took the reins include the mark for margin of victory during a 95-27 win over Manchester University in 2017-18, 14 made 3-pointers against Northland International University in 2013-14, and 47 free throw attempts against UW-Stout during the 2013-14 season.

Fischer has helped seven Titans garner a total of 12 All-WIAC First Team accolades, five players achieve eight total All-Central Region awards from D3hoops.com and two Titans earn a total of four All-America citations from the American Basketball Coaches Association. UW-Oshkosh players have been the recipient of the WIAC Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award three times since Fischer joined the program – Megan Wenig in 2013, Eliza Campbell in 2018 and Chloe Pustina in 2019.

In 2018-19 Fischer’s team posted a 26-4 record, clinched the WIAC regular season and tournament crowns, won the NCAA Division III Championship Oshkosh Regional title and advanced to the third round of the national tournament. The Titans won their WIAC-leading 13th regular season title and had a program-record five players named to the all-conference team. Fischer’s squad led the WIAC in scoring defense (49.1), average scoring (+17.4) and rebounding (+6.4) margins, field goal percentage (.431), turnovers per game (12.7) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.16). The Titans’ scoring defense and turnovers per game ranked ninth and 10th, respectively, in the country.

In 2017-18 Fischer and the Titans compiled a 21-6 record and placed second in the WIAC standings for the fifth time over the most recent six years. UW-Oshkosh, which produced a 9-5 WIAC mark, advanced to the championship game of the conference tournament for the fifth season in a row. The Titans led the country by committing just 11 turnovers per game while also pacing the league with 70.5 points per game, 50.9 points allowed per contest, a .436 field goal percentage, a +7.9 average rebounding margin and a 1.25 assist-to-turnover ratio. In the classroom the Titans finished 24th in the country with a 3.567 team grade point average.

In 2016-17 Fischer led UW-Oshkosh to a 26-4 record and the program’s first conference title since 2006. The Titans produced a 13-1 mark in WIAC play to secure the school’s first outright conference championship since 1999. UW-Oshkosh concluded the season ranked ninth by D3hoops.com as the Titans listed second nationally with just 11.8 turnovers per game and 13th in the country by allowing 50.5 points per contest. UW-Oshkosh also paced the WIAC in field goal percentage (.413), field goal percentage defense (.354) and turnover margin (+4.40). Fischer helped Taylor Schmidt become the school’s third WIAC Player of the Year honoree and the first since 1998. Schmidt also received All-America recognition from both D3hoops.com and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

During the 2015-16 season, Fischer helped lead the Titans to a 23-6 record, including an 11-3 mark in the WIAC. UW-Oshkosh finished the year ranked 13th by D3hoops.com after reaching at least the second round of the NCAA postseason for the third year in a row. The Titans capped the season ranked third in the nation with 12.1 turnovers per game while also leading the WIAC in scoring defense (51.1), 3-point field goal percentage (.348), assists (13.34) and turnover margin (+5.79).

In the 2014-15 season, Fischer's Titans owned a 23-7 overall record and an 11-5 mark in the WIAC. UW-Oshkosh advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship for the second consecutive season after winning its second straight and third overall WIAC Championship title. The Titans ended the year leading the WIAC in field goal percentage (.429) and turnover margin (+3.63).

During the 2013-14 campaign, Fischer led UW-Oshkosh to a 26-4 record and the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament. The Titans, who concluded the season ranked ninth by D3hoops.com, won the WIAC tournament for the second time overall and first since 1999. Fischer also guided UW-Oshkosh to a second-place finish in the WIAC regular season with a 13-3 mark. It was the most WIAC wins for the Titans since 2004, when they also went 13-3. UW-Oshkosh hosted a 2014 NCAA Division III regional pod and advanced to the third round for the first time since 1999. Fischer’s squad led the WIAC in per-game scoring defense (55.1), 3-point field goal defense (.285), rebounding defense (31.7), assists (14.57) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.01). The Titans set program records with 775 free throw attempts and 558 free throws made.

Fischer’s 2014 Titans also earned a spot on the Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. The Titans ranked 23rd in D III with a 3.48 team grade point average.

Fischer’s first year, in 2012-13, was a record-breaking success as the Titans improved by 13 wins. UW-Oshkosh (20-6) posted a 12-4 league record for the greatest turnaround in WIAC history. Fischer was named Coach of the Year by both the WIAC and the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. With the WIAC’s top defense (51 points per game), Fischer guided the Titans to victories over national runner-up UW-Whitewater and No. 16 UW-Stevens Point.

Fischer spent five seasons (2006-11) as the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at NCAA Division II UW-Parkside. He also has prior experience coaching in the WIAC, assisting with the UW-La Crosse women’s basketball team from 2003-06.

Under Fischer and head coach Jenny Kenesie, UW-Parkside improved its record each of his five years with the program. The five-year run culminated with records of 24-7 in 2011 and 23-8 in 2010, the two best victory totals in school history. During 2012 Fischer served as UW-Parkside’s assistant athletic director for communications.

UW-Parkside compiled a winning record in each of Fischer’s five years as assistant coach. In 2010 the Rangers captured their first Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) division title, reached the title game of the GLVC Tournament and qualified for the NCAA Division II Championship for just the second time in school history. UW-Parkside won two games in the 2011 NCAA Division II Tournament to reach the Sweet Sixteen. The Rangers fell in the Midwest Regional final to eventual national runner-up Michigan Technical University. During the season, UW-Parkside was ranked in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll for the first time.

Fischer’s first recruiting class at UW-Parkside finished with an 89-31 record and three NCAA postseason appearances. Two of his players were named all-region and broke the 1,600-point barrier for their careers. In 2012 Jadee Rooney became the first Ranger to receive NCAA Division II All-America mention.

At UW-La Crosse, Fischer helped the Eagles improve from a 9-16 team in 2004 to a 19-8 squad in 2006. The winning record was the program’s first in 18 years. UW-La Crosse began the 2006 campaign with 13 straight wins to become the 16th-ranked team in the nation. Fischer recruited and coached Mackenzie Hunter, who finished as the school’s second-leading scorer (1,526 points) and earned WIAC Player of the Year honors.

Fischer also was an assistant coach at Western Wisconsin Technical College from 2000-01 and Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School from 2001-03.

Kelly McNiff begins her sixth season as the lead assistant coach with the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball program.

McNiff has helped guide the Titans to a 119-27 record and four NCAA Division III Championship appearances during her five seasons with the program from 2014-18. She has helped four Titans garner a total of nine All-WIAC first team accolades, four players achieve seven total All-Central Region awards from D3hoops.com and two Titans earn a total of four All-America citations from the American Basketball Coaches Association. McNiff's efforts also helped the Titans receive academic top 25 rankings in 2013-14 and 2017-18.

Last season McNiff and the Titans compiled a 21-6 record and placed second in the WIAC standings for the fifth time over the most recent six years. UW-Oshkosh, which reached the final of the WIAC Championship for the fifth season in a row, led the country by committing just 11 turnovers per game while also pacing the league with 70.5 points per game, 50.9 points allowed per contest, a .436 field goal percentage, a +7.9 average rebounding margin and a 1.25 assist-to-turnover ratio.

In 2016-17 McNiff and UW-Oshkosh sported a 26-4 record, won the program’s first conference title since 2006 and advanced to the third round of the national tournament. The Titans produced a 13-1 mark in WIAC play to secure the school’s first outright conference championship since 1999. UW-Oshkosh concluded the season ranked ninth by D3hoops.com as the Titans listed second nationally with just 11.8 turnovers per game and 13th in the country by allowing 50.5 points per contest.

During the 2015-16 season, McNiff helped lead the Titans to a 23-6 record, including an 11-3 mark in the WIAC. UW-Oshkosh finished the year ranked 13th by D3hoops.com after reaching at least the second round of the NCAA postseason for the third year in a row. The Titans capped the season ranked third in the nation with 12.1 turnovers per game while also leading the WIAC in scoring defense (51.1), 3-point field goal percentage (.348), assists (13.34) and turnover margin (+5.79).

In 2014-15 McNiff assisted the Titans to a 23-7 overall record and an 11-5 mark in the WIAC. UW-Oshkosh advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship for the second consecutive season after winning its second straight and third overall WIAC Championship title.

During the 2013-14 campaign, McNiff helped UW-Oshkosh to a 26-4 record and the third round of the NCAA Division III tournament. The Titans, who ended the season ranked ninth in the nation, won the WIAC tournament for the second time overall and first since 1999.

McNiff, who played basketball at UW-Oshkosh from 1997-2000, was the head girls basketball coach at De Pere High School from 2010-13. She led the Redbirds to a 96-11 record, three Fox River Classic Conference (FRCC) titles and a Division 1 state championship in 2012. De Pere was the state runner-up in 2010.

In 2013, De Pere won its first 24 games before getting beat by Kimberly in a sectional semifinal. The loss ended a 44-game winning streak for the Redbirds.

The Pacelli High School (Stevens Point) graduate was named the Associated Press State Coach of the Year in 2012 and the FRCC Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2012.

While attending UW-Oshkosh, McNiff helped the Titans compile a 98-15 overall record, including marks of 27-2 in 1999 and 26-2 in 1998. UW-Oshkosh qualified for the NCAA Division III Championship all four years and captured WIAC titles in 1998 and 1999.

McNiff started 52 of the 99 games that she played for UW-Oshkosh. Her best statistical season came in 2000, when she averaged 6.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and a team-high 3.1 assists. McNiff also played on UW-Oshkosh's 1997 softball team that reached the NCAA Division III Tournament.

After graduating from UW-Oshkosh in 2000, McNiff served one season as a student assistant coach for the Titans. UW-Oshkosh won the WIAC title and finished the 2001 season with a 19-6 record.

Prior to becoming the head coach at De Pere High School, McNiff spent two years (2008-09) guiding Green Bay Southwest High School. She was an assistant coach at Oshkosh North High School in 2002 and the head junior varsity coach at De Pere from 2003-07. McNiff also served two seasons as an assistant softball coach at Oshkosh North (2001-03) and UW-Green Bay (2005-06).

McNiff owns bachelor's degrees in physical education (2000) and exercise & fitness management (2004) from UW-Oshkosh. She earned a master's degree in educational technology from Marian University during 2009. She also has taught health and physical education classes in the Green Bay area.